Monday, 25 July 2016

Hello and good morning, -afternoon, -evening, dear people who all participate is this wonderful photomeme, which is a joy to me, week after week, after week.
I’m always curious to what you come up with!

The challenging letter of this week is the C
And I've chosen for Coffee Ever since I was a little girl I have loved it! I start my day with it and I end my day with it.
I have never counted the cups of it I drink per day.
First I always had mild and suger in it but since I've discovered, somewhere in the 90's that suger triggered migraines I stopped with using it. It took a while to get acustomed to it but now I would not drink even a zip of it when it containes sugar. My migraines dropped dramaticly in numbers after I stopped using sweets.

At home I drink regular coffees, like on the photo, but I also like cappuccino's or other kinds which for example are served in local shops from Starbucks ore other restaurants when I visit them.

So....whenever you would like to offer me a drink.... coffee is always the perfect choice ;-)

Sunday, 17 July 2016

Welcome to Round 19 at ABC Wednesday! We are bestowing praise on the letter B this week - B as in bananas, belly, ball, brainstorm, beckon, boats, breathe, badge, and belfry.

I think most of you know that I reside in the Greater Vancouver area in British Columbia, the 3rd largest city in Canada with a population of around 3 million. Some experts predict Vancouver will be Canada's largest city by 2040 with a population of over 10 million. I can see it is well on its way, but with housing prices currently rising to unbelievable amounts, the Greater Vancouver area will probably expand as younger people move out into the suburbs and beyond.

I've done a bit of traveling in my time and I love everywhere I go. But when I'm flying in over the city, I sometimes can't believe I live in such a beautiful place! I actually live in a small village (which is growing as I write this) close enough to the city if I want or need to drive in, yet far enough away that it feels like the country. I thought I'd share with you a few recent shots of this beatific area this week simply because so many people do not believe that we have such great weather here. Yes, it rains in the winter but it's more like a drizzle than a downpour!

A friend and I went to Granville Island, an area on the water just before you get to the downtown area of the city and almost right under the BurrardBridge. Granted it was a beautiful day but this was April and we didn't need jackets at all.

This is the view from our patio table at the famous restaurant Bridges. They have been known for their bright yellow exterior and the bright yellow patio umbrellas. However, we were disappointed to see that they've changed their umbrellas to a dull navy blue. So we complained to the server and told him it looked like any other restaurant - maybe even Earl's (another popular eatery). He said he'd take it to one of the owners because we felt the yellow umbrellas had been iconic. Everyone says that Bridges is where the bright yellow umbrellas are!

Anyway, right besideBridges you can rent boats at the dock here or go on boat cruises around the harbour area.

While we were eating, a pirate ship came by with a boat load of children and caregivers! The pirates waved madly while the children each held a giant hose and sprayed the water as they passed by.

Lots of people moor their boats in this harbour, and there are bounteous numbers of sailboats. Also as we were eating, one of the Vancouver Police boats came by and they gave us a wave.

You will see lots and lots of birds around here, too, especially Canada geese and sea gulls. They are practically tame and will take food from your hands. Both these birds were really working the crowds.

Finally, there are water buses that we call "aquabuses" that will take you across the water or down the way to another destination. They're really fun to ride in and the driver will give you a rundown of what you're passing. They will take you across to downtown or all the way to Science World!

And YES, believeit - we have palm trees here! This particular shot is down at English Bay Beach, and I love the tree on top of the condo building in the background! We're able to grow hardy palms here because we're in a little area that is surrounded by water and mountains that gets a very temperate climate!

Hope you've enjoyed a little bit of Vancouver and can see now and believe that not all of Canada is snowbound!

Have a great week and think of bright and blessed me burning up the roads and trains over in England and Wales right now. That's why you haven't "seen" me around lately, but I'll be back next week with blow by blow descriptions of my time there plus boundless stories and photos to show you all.

Saturday, 9 July 2016

As ADMINISTRATOR for ABC Wednesday, I thought I'd ASSUME the role of your ADVISER through the ANTIQUITY of this ACCULTURALATION.

One Mrs. Nesbitt, of jolly AULD ALBION, thought it would be an AMUSEMENT to start a blog which required our AUDIENCE to come up with a blog post each week, going through the ALPHABET. She did it ALL - writing the introductions, and of course, visiting ALL the participants. She even designed the first badge I could find.

Over time, she found ASSOCIATED folks to AID her do the visits. I joined the ACTION in Round 5, K is for Keating 5, a most political post in a largely APOLITICAL group. Soon thereafter, Mrs. Nesbitt ASKED for more ALLIES and I ANSWERED the call.

Starting with Round 7 through Round 18, Troy ALLOYED the badges you see at the top of the page. Gattina created the one for Round 19, but I'm ASSUMING Troy will return for Round 20.

Near the end of Round 10, blog disaster struck. ALL the team had been issued ADMINISTRATOR rights. Someone - I do not know who - whether by ACCIDENT (highly unlikely) or by design, decertified everyone as administrators. Mrs. Nesbitt was no longer in control of her own blog. The old blog was subsequently deleted by that person, but if you go to the https://ARCHIVE.org/web/the Wayback Machine, and put in the URL http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/ for December 11, 2010 or earlier.

Shortly thereafter, I became the chief administrator, and one of only two people, along with Mrs. Nesbitt, who could ADAPT other people's posts, and ADD the link that ALLOWS you to participate in ABC Wednesday each week.

Eventually, though, I needed to APPEAL for some backup. But who? As it happened, Mrs. Nesbitt had ACCEPTED a visit from Leslie, who lives in British Columbia, Canada. Eventually, we added her as the ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.

In the final ANALYSIS, we (Denise, Leslie and I) have decided to let ABC Wednesday run its course, and will let it end with Round 20. But that will be a year from now.

Meanwhile, please AUGMENT our ranks each week. We are looking for people to visit others for the next two rounds. If you want, you can also write introductions, like this one.

AND if someone wants to ASSUME responsibility of ABC Wednesday ABOUT a year from now, I will ASSIST you in doing so. Contact me AT RogerOGreen (AT) GMAIL (DOT) COM.

Monday, 4 July 2016

I know that our 'Abcw' friend Melody is passionately fond of her local ZOO,sadly I'm not fond of ZOOS... my apologies to Melody.

I just don't like to see wild animals taken out of their natural habitat and shipped off to far away lands then put into pens or large landscaped arenas. I know the Curators and keepers of present day ZOOSdo their level best to create the right environment for the animals, it just seems cruel, to keep them in captivity.

ZEBRAS enjoying each others company on the African Tundra.

The King of the Jungle.... Master of all he surveys.

The Lion................

The ever alert Tiger often found in the mountains of India.

There are so many Safari Parks and Wild Game Reserves out in Asia, Africa and India, where people can see them in their natural environment.

Australia has special reserves, right across the Bush and is inhabited by many species including, Kangaroos, Crocodiles and Koala Bears.

Mama Koala Bear and baby taking in the sun in the Aussie Bush.

Kangaroos having a chat in the Australian Bush.

Crusty old Croc...I still wouldn't make shoes out of him. Even Crocodiles have feelings, even they cry sometime, ever heard of crocodile tears ...

Last but not least the most amazing wild animal of all....The Majestic Elephant probably walking to the next water hole with a very tiny baby Elephant on the open plains of Africa.

Bath time for the babies (below) with Mama Elle-Phant looking on!

I bet you can guess by now that my favourite wild animal is the magnificent Elephant.

Now! You tell me;

How could all these beautiful animals be happy in an enclosed and restrictive ZOO ?

The Elephants need to roam freely to find food and water.

The Lions need to hunt for food and strut around surveying their kingdom.

The Tigers need to hang out, way up in trees, to take a snooze, always with one eye open waiting for lunch to pass by.

I hope the illustrations, along with my expressed feelings about putting wild animals in ZOOS, indicate just how much land and open space they require to enjoy their lives!

Also climate should be taken into consideration

For instance, putting a Polar Bear in an enclosed pen in Florida, with a small pond of muddy water is downright cruel.

I remember watching one in a ZOO walking round and round and shaking his head, indicated how he was being driven mad by being enclosed in such a confined space.

Polar Bears, instinctively walk for miles and miles over frozen ice packs, hunting for food by diving by into the icy Arctic waters, catching fresh fish to feed themselves and their cubs.

.

Just going for a snoooZZZZZ now because Leslie (The Pedalogue) is in town, can't wait to see her tomorrow...we're going to a lovely Italian restaurant called Gusto, down at the Albert Dock on the Liverpool riverfront. It's a BUZZY place with loads of PIZZAZZ.

My sincere thanks to the ZANY Denise who celebrated a very special birthday last week, 'Happy Birthday Denise' hope you had a ZESTY party with all your friends and family. xxx. My thanks also to Roger our administrator who, each week ZIPS around our blogs keeping up with the current contributions. Last, but not least, thanks to the team of ZINGY helpers who lessen Roger's workload... we hope!